Independent time

How do you encourage independent time to play or draw etc? I find myself leading activities for my little one and then they are reliant on me to do rather than exploring themselves. I'm trying to adopt a 'let them lead' style but not having much luck.
Could it be the toys, the activities, me?

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Very morning I ask my little one what she’d like to do today. At the minute it’s often either “play playdoh, see nana or go shop”.

I also have her choose between two different items of clothing when she gets dressed, she has started requesting different clothing before I give her options recently.

We are at a point where she choses 90% of the things we do, to get there I’ve sort of let her get bored, and figure out what she wants to do on her own.

I also have the “do jobs” activity. Where some times I actually have stuff to do, some times I don’t. But i say I have to “do jobs”’and she knows it basically mean I’m going to be busy. She knows what the job is and where in the house n I’m going to be. Some times she follows me some time she doesn’t.

I also mostly have two meal options for her all the time, and let her chose between the two.I have all of her plates/ cups/ cutlery in a pull out drawer that she can reach, and I get her to get them and pass them up to me.

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This is extremely helpful! Thank you so much for relying

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Fuel station query

If you are by yourself, after you’ve filled your car with fuel do you take your baby in to the kiosk to pay or leave them in the car?

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14

What would your spouse do when...

You're going out to the playground for an hour and they've been asked to take their washing out once the machine is finished.

But... The child lock is on and it doesn't open. They've never used this fairly new WM before.

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15

Am I being hormonal and dramatic

Me and my partner have been together 10 years and I’m almost 9 months pregnant with my second
I feel like he doesn’t even try to bond with the bump
Every time baby moves/kicks I get excited and say LOOK or Come feel and he just says “ew it freaks me out”
I feel like I’ve expressed the need and support that I need over and over again I’m tired of the one always cleaning, washing, planning things.
I’ve been the one to buy most of the baby stuff, only thing he bought was the pram in March even though my income is 3X less than what he makes
I try to get him involved in the decisions as little as what outfits we’re buying/ first outfit home etc but just feel like he couldn’t care less
He stays up till 4am all the time playing his games then wakes me up getting into bed with his phone or with him moving around and then expects me to wake him up in the mornings and it drives me insane as we already have another child who wakes up at 6am every morning and I’m the one constantly up and making breakfasts, cleaning etc whilst he knows I’m up and down all night needing to pee, drink so I’m not even getting full sleep myself
He doesn’t keep track of any of my appts, feel like he doesn’t pay attention to anything I say
Can’t remember the last time I got some flowers or even heard a “im proud of you and all this hard work you’re doing and going through”
I don’t have a mum, my dad lives in a different country and I have no mum friends and just want someone to be excited with me or feel listened to is that too much to ask for ? Am I just feeling it more because of my hormones or should I stand my ground even if it causes a argument

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5

Toddler not wanting to come back from grandparents

Hi,

I’m writing this with full acceptance that I may come off as a little childish to be so upset about this situation as I understand toddlers and children in general like to stay with their grandparents (who are fun) often.

A little bit of background on the situation, my parents have been a huge part of my village and are the only reliable village I have, I am extremely lucky to have them as usually always if I ask for childcare they say yes… I love how close my toddler (age 2.5) is to them, from the get go they have always been very active and involved grandparents, my toddler actually stays at their house overnight 2-3x a week due to my night shifts and I understand he loves being there.

What’s upsetting me however is my toddler is always very excited to go there, which is great, but when he comes home (sometimes it can be 3 days later if I’ve done 2 night shifts) he will be really upset and doesn’t want to come home, he doesn’t actually ask about me when he’s there… he never asks to come home. it’s like he hasn’t missed me either and genuinely just prefers being there. My Mum told me when she was bringing him home today he said he didn’t want to come home. After she left, he immediately asked to go back. It feels like he’s closer to them than me.

Any advice on this is welcome or even if anyone has gone through similar. As I say I know I may sound a little childish.

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6

Going out is draining!!

I have an almost 3 year old who is very energetic and a nightmare when he doesn’t have his naps or eat properly and I have an almost 9 month old and breastfeeding. Some days I really can not be bothered to go outside because it’s draining so sometimes I’m at home for 4 days straight until my son goes to my mums for the day and me and my daughter go for a stroll is this bad? I just don’t enjoy going outside with two kids feels like torture anyone in the same boat?
We don’t have a garden so I sometimes feel guilty!

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9

Help settle a debate

So my daughter turns 3 next Saturday and yesterday we went to pick her scooter with her for her birthday. I said to my partner that she shouldn’t have to wait until next week and there is no harm in her having it now, he on the other hand said that he never got any of his presents early so she has to wait until next week to get it. I then tried to reason with him that she wants to go to the zoo for her birthday which we obviously won’t take the scooter to so she’s not even going to get to ride it on that day. He still said she has to wait. Who would you side with?

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